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Civics 101

Founding Documents: Magna Carta

Civics 101

NHPR

History, Government, Society & Culture

4.22.6K Ratings

🗓️ 22 January 2019

⏱️ 28 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Magna Carta was sealed on a field in England in 1215. It's purpose was to appease some frustrated Barons, and it was never intended to last. Over 800 years later, this document is credited with establishing one of the most foundational principles of our democracy. So what does Magna Carta actually say? And how did it get from dubious stalling tactic in the 13th century to U.S. Supreme Court arguments in the modern era?  CLICK HERE: Visit our website to see all of our episodes, donate to the podcast, sign up for our newsletter, get free educational materials, and more! To see Civics 101 in book form, check out A User's Guide to Democracy: How America Works by Hannah McCarthy and Nick Capodice, featuring illustrations by Tom Toro. Check out our other weekly NHPR podcast, Outside/In - we think you'll love it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Civics 101 is supported in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

0:05.0

The High Middle Ages

0:10.0

Europe's population is growing rapidly.

0:13.0

The Black Death is just a glint in some rats eye and still a century away.

0:17.0

The economy is booming, the Catholic Church is proceeding.

0:21.0

The feudal system is alive and well.

0:24.0

Oh, King, I'm very nice.

0:26.0

Now, do you get that, eh?

0:28.0

Exploiting the workers by hanging on to outdated imperialist dogma

0:32.0

which perpetuates the economic and social differences in our society.

0:36.0

When are we exactly?

0:37.0

We're looking down the barrel of 1200.

0:40.0

Tremendous, tremendous carry on.

0:42.0

King Richard the Lionheart has just died after being shot in the shoulder,

0:46.0

possibly by a vengeful boy child.

0:48.0

Man.

0:49.0

Richard's younger brother, John in Herit's England.

0:52.0

He is, by many accounts, a petty, cruel and hated ruler.

0:56.0

In fact, he attempted a rebellion back when Richard was alive and fighting in the Third Crusade.

1:02.0

This is actually a key plot point in most Robin Hood movies, by the way.

1:06.0

Prince John is the villain who exploits the poor serfs and prompts Robin to steal from the rich and give to the poor.

1:12.0

Hannah, I love this.

...

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